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Deserter looks objectively at the military record of George W. Bush, his role in the armed forces, and his treatment of them. Over the past year, Bush’s military poses have been contrived to convince the American public that he is a National Security President. Others have found his playacting less convincing. While George W. Bush supported the Vietnam War, his contribution was to enlist in a nepotistic unit of the Texas National Air Guard, which, short of World War III, was guaranteed never to see military action. Even in this safe position, Lieutenant Bush broke under the strain and went AWOL for the best part of a year. In contrast, American National Guardsmen have not only been called up for frontline action in Iraq, but they have had their terms of service extended. While the military budget soars, the war is being fought with a dangerously inadequate number of troops. The dead and disabled are shipped home under cover of darkness; those who eventually return in one piece find that their veterans’ medical benefits and facilities are being axed. Deserter strips away the illusion of Bush as “commander-in-chief” to reveal a hypocrite who has betrayed his troops and his country.

"Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress"
Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? Cognitive scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, and instead, follow the data: In seventy-five jaw-dropping graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise. Learn more

My only problem with William's book is he fails to discuss that Bush was the most decorated pilot in the Alabama National Guard. Junior was awarded the Yellow Strips four times for going AWOL beyond the call of duty. But seriously, Bush does not even posses the courage to last one mere day of service in the Girl Scouts. The book is a must for any Nam Vet.

Actually, on the bottom of page 4 of his UMPR (Uniform Military Personnel Record) from 5/10/73 it says "NO RPT 1 YR" which translated for all of you non-military types means that he did NOT report to any guard unit for an entire year. (In theory you have to attend a drill one weekend a month and spend several weeks each year in training.) The document can be seen on [...] if you want to look for yourself.

I don't really care that he didn't report for that year as the "system" at the time was designed to make sure that the sons of congressmen were never put in harm's way. What offends me is the way the President lies about it. That being said, when you duck the draft, someone does have to go in your place and I would wonder what happened to that poor sob.

There is a great line in the movie Platoon Leader where a young lieutenant tells his men that he doesn't even care if they, "pull on the little people" (shoot at the VC), they just have to, "be here with the rest of us" getting shot at and enduring the danger. No matter what you think of either Bush or Kerry, their policies or their friends, Bush was AWOL and continues to lie about it.

This book is excellent. My husband, who's recently retired from the military, and I bought this because of Dubya's flip-flopping on his record. Although a lot seems to be missing (like the DD-214 all of us get when we get out--I have mine), it's still revealing. We're an Air Force family and have known many, many pilots over the years and they take great pride in their flying status and would not miss their annual, required flight physicals for anything.

Too bad the media can't give the same coverage of this like they did the Monica thing. Young men and women are dying while I type this, but hey, let's keep our priorities straight. Since when was it moral to send people to their deaths with lies? Especially when the same people perpetrating these horrible sins were hiding and ensuring they saved their worthless hides while shirking their duty during Viet Nam.

An excellent book for anyone who really cares for our military personnel and their families.

I started this book with a great deal of skepticism. The author has crossed all his T's and dotted all his I's.

The research seems indisputable. Even if Bush was never charged with being AWOL it certainly appears tthat he was indeed AWOL> I suppose it not a big shock that he would be charged. After all his political connections got him the National Guard posting to begin with when he was clearly unqualified. ( come on a 25% on the test gets him bounced ahead of 500 applicants?!?) Then gets promoted to 2nd Lt without having graduated from flight school yet?

The Bush refuses to take a physical because there was a new requirement for a drug test? That gets his flight status dropped thus wasting the milloin or so dollars of taxpayer money spent to train him. This book is amazing.

Then the coward has the gall to wear a flight suit and challenge the Iraqi's to "bring it on" when he hid under the bed drunk and stoned on coke in Texas when the Viet Cong were bringing it on!

I am veteran and I'm disgusted.

Good book, worth reading. I am anxious to see all those single star reviews from those who have never read it. Maybe Neil Boortz can write one - there's another Chickenhawk warmonger who hid under mommy's bed during the war.

No matter how much people will pick apart John Kerry's service in Vietnam, at least he was there serving his country. Bush does not know what WAR is like - he wasn't there. To send our young children and grandchildren in to harm's way - have them come back mutilated and then decrease their benefits and pay. Disgusting! BUSH does not value life - he only values the good old American dollar!

George Bush is a military phony. This book has the facts. It is well-written, substantiated and devastating. Anybody wearing a uniform who thinks Bush is in their corner is mistaken. Ian Williams has done the country a favor by assembling the evidence. Buy it, borrow it, but do read it.